Monday, February 02, 2009

SIM PIN Challenge 2

SIM PIN Challenge 2
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A reminder that this challenge ends on the 15th February 2009:
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http://trewmte.blogspot.com/2009/01/sim-pin-challenge.html
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No pressure here guys, but we have had the first written response to the SIM PIN Challenge from a Challenge Entrant who has just started in mobile telephone forensics. This Challenge should therefore be a walk in the park for all you mobile phone and computer forensic examiners who have given evidence about SIM Cards in Court.
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As a brief history about SIM Cards, the requirement for *Personal Identity Number (PIN) to be available in a SIM Card is defined by way of the GSM Standard GSM11.11. Moreover, GSM11.11 v3 1995 standard and onwards can be downloaded free of charge. So at least we know there is over 13 years of technical knowledge about SIM Card PIN that is traceable. Furthermore, there are other standards that are used to test for allocation and activation of PIN and the mandated execution of the function between the mobile phone and SIM Card.
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*Do remember that PIN is only used because it is comon language now, but has been made obsolete from the standards and replaced by CHV (Card Holder Verification).
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Finally, many ten of thousands of SIM Cards have been examined and their evidence, along with examiners' testimonies/experts' opinions, have been presented in criminal proceedings at Court for well over a decade. A large number of the SIM Cards presented for examination had PIN enabled, thus understanding the fundamental operation of PIN is vital to forensic investigation understanding and the evidence presented about it.
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I have sent copies of this Challenge and MOBILE FORENSICS AND EVIDENCE DEGREES/CHALLENGE (see weblink at the end of this discussion) to the following who have the responsibility for: innovation, universities and skills; and regulation of forensic sciences:
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Rt Hon John Denham Secretary of State for the
Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)
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Mr Andrew Rennison UK Forensic Science Regulator
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MOBILE FORENSICS AND EVIDENCE DEGREES/CHALLENGE